Monday, November 8

Tips to winterize your car

 

Gannett News Service

Mechanics offer full inspections for winter preparations, and that's a good opportunity to make sure all your regular car maintenance is up to date. But here are some things you should always think about on your own:

- Make sure your cooling system has enough antifreeze and keep the windshield washer reservoir filled with the proper fluid. Don't use water. Anything that freezes won't be of any use when you really need it.

- Check battery terminals. If you see signs of corrosion such as whitish powder, clean them or have them cleaned. A battery's life expectancy is 50 to 60 months.

- Check and repair brake lights, turn signals, the trunk light - right down to the glove-box light.

- Check the condition of your wiper blades and make sure they're not frozen to the windshield before turning them on. Keep spray de-icer handy.

- Check the condition of hoses and belts. Blowing a hose or breaking a belt is bad anytime. In winter, it can be disastrous.

- Keep tires properly inflated. Don't lower the pressure thinking you'll get more traction. Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 9,000 miles.

- Make sure tire treads are at least 1/8-inch deep by inserting a penny Lincoln head first at the most worn part of the tire. If you see the top of Lincoln's head, you may need new tires.

- Lubricate car door weather stripping with a silicone spray to keep it from freezing shut.

- Keep a full tank of gasoline to prevent the gas line from freezing.

- Maintain a winter survival kit in your vehicle with tire chains, jumper cables, sand or nonclumping kitty litter, a shovel, flashlight with fresh batteries, flares, a snow brush and scraper, a tool kit, including a pocket knife, a first-aid kit, sleeping bag or blanket, hand warmers, winter clothes, including extra gloves, towels, a hat, nonperishable food and a can opener, bottled water, waterproof matches, a candle and an empty coffee can, along with another can for sanitation purposes.

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(Contributing: Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune, (Sioux Falls, S.D.) Argus Leader, The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal, Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, The Detroit News, The Marion (Ohio) Star, Battle Creek (Mich.) Enquirer)